I know I'm going to get shit for this, but I really think the best rifle to have, not necessarily the only rifle I'd grab, but definitely the first would be a .22

ammo availability means no matter where you end up you can find ammo, it will kill small game and even a deer if you're a good shot. and it can be a decent weapon, granted it doesn't have stopping power, but getting shot with a .22 will deter all but the most desperate attackers, and even then once they're shot once your advantage raises a ton. also the weight issue, if you have to travel it's best to cut ounces and they weigh nothing.

Both solid choices.Personally my choice is the ar15 because .223 and 5.56 is readily available in the usa.also theres the option of the .22 conversion kit with that rifle.I'll be posting pics of my m4 very soon with these things so visit this thread regularly.

It is important in remember that a SHTF rifle would be used primarily for food acquisition, and the .22 conversion would allow for massive ammunition reserves to be used for hunting small game, while still allowing one to protect oneself from Muslims and pirated and shit.

If possible, a dedicated .22 or .17hmr upper would be preferable, as the barrel twist rate required for stabilizing heavier .223 loads is far too fast for rimfire, reducing accuracy. That reduction in accuracy would be detrimental to the small game hunting capabilities of the .22. A dedicated upper would also allow the user to zero his optics to a speciffic round and load. The POI of a 20gr .22lr round is far different than that of a 77gr 5.56 round.

From personal experience, I believe the durability of the ak platform to be far overstated.

I know I'm going to get shit for this, but I really think the best rifle to have, not necessarily the only rifle I'd grab, but definitely the first would be a .22

ammo availability means no matter where you end up you can find ammo, it will kill small game and even a deer if you're a good shot. and it can be a decent weapon, granted it doesn't have stopping power, but getting shot with a .22 will deter all but the most desperate attackers, and even then once they're shot once your advantage raises a ton. also the weight issue, if you have to travel it's best to cut ounces and they weigh nothing.

I'll back this up. My 10/22 has like 9 different parts, and hasn't been cleaned in I don't know how long. I can still drop rabbits at 50 yards with it. It's quiet and light with enough accuracy and power to kill small game. In a SHTF scenario I would trust it to kill/deter attackers. With out medical attention any sort of wound is going to get nasty fast. As mentioned by everyone else, ammo is cheap, plentiful and light.

I'll back this up. My 10/22 has like 9 different parts, and hasn't been cleaned in I don't know how long. I can still drop rabbits at 50 yards with it. It's quiet and light with enough accuracy and power to kill small game. In a SHTF scenario I would trust it to kill/deter attackers. With out medical attention any sort of wound is going to get nasty fast. As mentioned by everyone else, ammo is cheap, plentiful and light.